Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be joining leaders of over 150 countries in Paris today for the 21st edition of the climate change conference organised by the United Nations. He is expected to press for a legally binding universal agreement that keeps the temperature of the world below 2 degrees.Ā ModiĀ is accompanied by a team of negotiators selected from various ministries and also from the council of the Prime Minister for climate change. The head of the Indian delegation is Minister of Environment Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) Prakash Javadekar.

In day one, the election of the COP 21 President will be conducted, there will be an opening ceremony of the leader’s events and presentation of statements by various government heads of Peru, Ecuador, Zimbabwe, Switzerland, Chile, Honduras and other countries. The heads will take three-minutes each to present their stand on climate change. In the evening session a world wide statement on climate and energy will be deliberated upon.

Over 180 countries that contribute 95 percent of global gas emissions have already submitted their intended nationally determined contributions (INDCs) ahead of the summit. Angola has been the latest to submit its plan 13 hours ahead of the summit.

India alsoĀ inaugurated itsĀ Ā pavilion for the event to showcase its commitment to battle climate change.Ā In the wake of the talks, citizens across the globe participated in climate marches urging leaders to pave the way for a clean future. The talks assume special importance as it comes against the backdrop of the fatal terrorist attacks on Paris.Ā The 21 Conference of Parties scheduled to start today, will go upto 11 December 2015, in Paris, France.